The following is an interview with the first Musical Director of Lancaster Singers, Ian Hare.

‘Although the first record I have of a concert involving the Lancaster Singers dates from 1975, the idea of forming a choir was conceived soon after my arrival as a Lecturer in Music at the University in September 1974. A meeting with Dr. Eric Sharpe, of the Department of Religious Studies, and his Swedish wife Birgitta led to my being introduced to a small group of singers based at St. Paul's, Scotforth, and we went on from there. Concerts and services took place mainly in Lancaster and Morecambe, with occasional excursions to Cartmel Priory, Carlisle Cathedral and the Lune valley. Among the highlights were several events in St. Peter's Cathedral, notably a performance of the Berlioz Te Deum, directed by our President and my successor, Prof. Denis McCaldin, for which I played the organ.

It is gratifying to find that the Lancaster Singers are still going strong under their third musical director, Marco Fanti, who is ably assisted by Mavis Fletcher. This concert will be a celebration both of our long association and also of the fine organ in the Great Hall, which has added an important dimension to music making there, since its installation in 1979. I hope that both will continue to enrich Lancaster's cultural life for many years to come.’